CHESS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1198, 15 February 1895, Page 10

CHESS

All communications for this department must be addressed to the Chess Editor, Mr C. W. Benbow. 15/2/95 # #* The Wellington Chess Club meets every Tuesday and Friday evening at 7.30 in Room No. 11, Exchange Buildings, Lambton Quay. Visitors are cordially welcomed. SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS. No. 1594 (P. G. L. F.). 1 R to K 8 1 Any move 2 Mates accordingly. Solved by F.A.L.K., H. 8., and J.N.H. (Wellington) ; M.R. (Taranaki); F.E. (Picton : R.P. (Gisborne), “ A difficult key move, with fine after-play (9£) ” ; A. L. T. (Wanganui) ; Te Ika a Mani,C“ A truly wonderful problem, which I should think worth 9J ” ; and H.D. (Bulls), “An admirable conception.” Each of the three judges awarded the highest possible marks to it‘ viz., 100. \ No. 1594 (L. H. Jokisch). 1 Kt to Q 4 1 Kt x Kt 2 B to B 5 ch 2 Any move 3 Mates accordingly. Solved by F.A.L.K. (Wellington) ; R.P. (Gisborne), “ Good in all respects (9); ” H.D. (Bulls) ; and Te Ika a Maui. There is much that is commendable in this problem (9).

PROBLEM No. 1604. By Thomas Sexton (Woodville) Black.

White. White to play and mate'in two moves

PROBLEM No. 1605. By Dr Hatherly (Wanganui). Black.

White. White to play and mate in three moves

NEW ZEALAND CHESS CONGRESS. Tho game which follows was played on January Ist, 1895, between Mr Barnes, of the Wellington Working Men’s Chess Club, and Dr Hatherly, of Wanganui. In this contest the latter failed to do idmself justice.

King’s Gambit Declined. ' White. Black (Mr Barnes). (Dr. Hatherley). 1 P to K 4 1 P to 1C 4 2 P to KB 4 2 P to Q 3 An inferior way of declining the gambit. 3 Kt to K B 3 3 B to Kt 5 4 B to B 4 4 Kt to K B 3 5 P to Q 3 5 B x Kt 6 Q x Kt 6 Q Kt to Q 2 7 Castles 7 Q to K 2 8 B to K 3 8 P to K R 4 9 Kt to B 3 9 P to K Kt 3 Evidently an oversight as it gives White a winning advantage ; but in any case the latter had the better game as the result of his opponent’s inferior defence. 10 P x P 10 Kt x P P x P or Kt to R 2 would have been no better. The position is a difficult one for him. 11 Q x Kt 11 Q x Q 12 Rx B 12 B to Kt 2 13 Q R to K B sq We do not understand why White gave up the exchange here. There does not appear to have been any necessity for it. 13 B x R 14 R x B 14 R to R 2 15 R to B sq 15 P to Q R 3 16 Kt to Q 5 16 Castles Q R 17 BtoK Kt 5 , 17 Rtoß sq 18 B to K 7 18 Q R to K R sq 19 B to B 6 19 R to K sq 20 B x Kt 20 R x B 21 B to Kt 3 21 P to K B 4 22 P to Q 4 Neat and effective ; the win of the exchange is forced whatever Black may do. 22 R x Kt 23 B x R 23 P to B 4 24 P x P 24 Resigns CHESS IN GERMANY. The subjoined game, played in Nuremberg, is taken from Dr Tarrasch’s collection entitled “ Dreihundert Schachpartien.” Ruy Lopez Knights Game. White Black. (Dr Tarrasch.) (Herr Taubenhaus.) 1 P to K 4 1 P to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to Kt 5 3 Kt to B 3 4 Castles 4 Kt x K P 5 P to Q 4 5 P to Q R 3 6 B to R 4 6 P to Q Kt 4 7 B to Kt 3 7 P to Q 4 8 Q P x P 8 Kt to K 2 9PtoQR49 P to Q B 4 10 P x Q Kt P 10 P to Q B 5 11 B to K 4 11 Kt to Q B 4 12 P x P dis ch 12 Kt x B 13 R x Kt 13 P to K Kt 3 14 Kt to Q B 5 14 B x R P 15 B to Kt 5 15 B to Q Kt 2 16 R x R 16 Q x R 17 Kt to Q Kt 5 17 Resigns Black had a bad opening of which White took full advantage. At the close White threatens Kt to B 7 ch, and also to win by Kt to Q 6 ch. K to Q 2 is prettily answered now by P to K 6 ch.

CHESS IN LONDON. The following fine game, which we find in the Morning Post, was played between Mr James Mortimer, the celebrated play-writer, and Dr B. Lasker, during the latter’s attendance on his brother while ill in London. It is stated that Messrs Bird a.nd Mortimer were the only metropolitan players who succeeded in holding their own against the Doctor. Irregular Evans’ Gambit. White. Black. (Dr Lasker.) (Mr J. Mortimer. 1 P to K 4 IP to K 4 2 Kt to K B 3 2 Kt to Q B 3 3 B to B 4 3 B to B 4 4 Castles 4 Kt to B 3 5 P to Q Kt 4 It is well known to be unfavourable to offer the gambit at this stage, on account of the defence here adopted. 5 B x Kt P 6 P to B 3 6 B to K 2 The correct reply. 7 P to Q 4 7 P to Q 3 8 Kt to Kt 5

The attack is unsound, but as White’s game is unsound, anyway, his best chance lies in attack. 8 Castles 9 P to B 4 9 P to K R 3 10 Kt x P 10 R x Kt llßxßch llKxB 12 P to Q 5 12 Kt to Q Kt sq 13 P to B 4 13 K to Kt sq 14 Kt to B 3 14 Q Kt to Q 2 15 P to B 5 15 P to Q R 3 16 P to Kt 4 16 Kt to R 2 17 B to K 2 17 Q Kt to B sq 18 Q to H sq 18 B to Kt 4 19 Bto B 2 ‘ 19 Bto B 5 Black manoeuvres with ability.. 20 P to Q R 4 20 Q to K sq 21 P to K R 4 21 P to K Kt 4 22 P to K R 5 22 B to Q 2 23 K to Kt 2 23 Kt to B 3 24 K to B 3 24 Q Kt to R 2 25 Q R to Q Kt sq There is clearly nothing to be done on the other flank. 25 P to Kt 3 26 P to R 5 26 K to Kt 2 “ This subtle move,” says our London contemporary, “ is the key to a winning combination. Black now threatens Kt xKt P, and if then K x Kt, Q x P ch ; K x Q, Kt to B 3 mate.” (This is very pretty.—Ed.) 27 P x P 27 Kt x Kt P 28 R to K R sq 28 Kt to R 7 ch 29 K to Kt 2 29 Q x P 30 Q to K 2 30 P to Kt 5 31 Q to Q 3 31 Kt to Kt 4 32 B to Kt 3 32 Q to R 6 ch 33 K to B 2 33 Q Kt to B 6 34 B x Kt 34 B xB 35 Resigns A FRIENDLY GAME OF CHESS. From tho British Chess Magazine. When anxious cares have pained the weary mind, And gnawing worry all the heart has lined ; E’en then a solace sweet one surely may Enjoy—an hour or two throughout the day— In a friendly game of chess !

When sailing slowly o’er the quiet seas, Waftod deliciously by gentle breeze — Those seas where dolphins sport, and small fish fly— What more delightful ’neath the azure sky Than a friendly game of chess ? In summer days beneath a rose-tree bower, How quickly passeth by tho silent hour ! And, while we hear tho glad bird’s evening song, All nature doth seem soothed ; and time not long During a friendly game of chess. When wintry storm doth fiercely blow outside. And mighty rain-clouds on the tempest ride : When rolling waves rise proudly—white with foam — What better then, within the dear old home, Than a friendly game of chess ? When loving children all are gone to sleep, And guardian Angels round them vigils keep ; What happier recreation do we know Than sitting close before the fireside’s glow, At a friendly game of chess P Thomas Long.

NOTES. . Mr Charles Tomlinson contributes another of his most interesting articles in the British Chess Magazine for December, entitled “Chess Quotations at a Premium.” We quote the following story about Philidor : —“ In looking back upon the history of the Royal Game, we cannot fail to be struck with the immense influence of Philidor in reviving its popularity. His fame dates from a very early age- His father was in the chapel band of Versailles, and in a retiring room adjoining the chapel, tho members of the band were accustomed to rest and refresh themselves. -As the pioty of the Grand Monarque expended itself on external observances, ho forbade games of chance to be played so near the sacred precinct. Philidor’s grandfather, who bore the name of

Danicain, entered the band as a substitute for an Italian oboe player named Philidor. The King going to mass one morning .mistook Danicain for Philidor, nodded, and said -. ‘ Ah! Philidor, I’m glad to see you back in your place.’ The poor man was already dead and buried, but as the King had made a_ mistake, his subjects were bound to adopt it, and in this way Danicain became Philidor. Philidor’s father was accustomed to take his boy to the retiring-room, where he soon learned chess, and was often engaged in play. He said that the games made such an impression upon him that when in bed at night, he would go over the games that he had played during the day, and thus mentally see how he might have won where he had lost. In this way he often played through whole games, and he told his father one day that he thought he could play without sight of board and men. The boy was being educated as a musician, with the prospect of succeeding his father in the chapel band, but the startling announcement just made suggested to the father a source of income by exhibiting his boy as a blindfold chess-playes. Accordingly the lad played blindfold games in some of the cafes of Pans, and excited general astonishment.”